Enclosure having a rack for heating or cooling food products

ABSTRACT

An enclosure is disclosed for heating or cooling food products on a pan. The enclosure preferably has transparent side walls, a closure member and a rack comprising a plurality of vertically spaced-apart pan supports each comprised of a plurality of interconnected tubular fluid carrying members, each support is maintained in spaced-apart relationship by fluid carrying conduits which communicate with the tubular members to thereby transfer heated or cooled fluid between supports from a fluid supply inlet to a fluid discharge outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a display enclosure for food products having arack of vertically, spaced-apart supports for pans holding the foodproducts and through and between which supports a heated or cooledtransfer fluid can be circulated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There has long been a need for a case or enclosure of the presentinvention which can be placed, for example, on a counter top or the likefor displaying for sale various kinds of food products and in which thefood products can be chilled, warmed, or cooked. The case of the presentinvention has a plurality of spaced-apart supports on which panscontaining the food product can be placed. The side walls aretransparent so the food can be observed to thereby encourage people tobuy it. The supports are capable of circulating a fluid for transferringheat or cold from a source through pans to the food product. Thesupports are maintained in their spaced-apart relationship by means ofconduits located preferably on the corners of the supports. The conduitsare capable of transferring the fluid between the supports and thusserve a dual function. The corners of the enclosure are typicallyrectangular shaped in cross-section and provide an area to which thetransparent walls can be attached. The conduits are typically located atthe four corners of the support and thus can be hidden within thecorners to thereby provide an unobstructed view of the food on the pans.An inlet is provided typically adjacent the bottom support and an outletwould be provided adjacent the top so that heated or cooled transferfluid, typically water, could be circulated through the inlet, acrossand between each vertical support and out the outlet.

In a second embodiment, an enclosure is set forth for warming or cookingfood products by conduction, as set forth in our U.S. Pat. No.5,086,693. A source of heated water can be provided and secured at thetop of the enclosure. This source would typically have a pump forcirculating the heated transfer fluid through the supports andinterconnecting conduits.

In a third embodiment, a source of cool or chilled water can be providedby a refrigeration system located beneath the enclosure to cool foodproducts by conduction. Again, this source would typically have a pumpfor circulating cooled transfer fluid through the supports andinterconnecting conduits.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea superior display enclosure in which food products can be chilled,warmed or cooked by conduction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a displayenclosure for food having a rack of spaced-apart supports which arecapable of transferring heat or cold to food carrying pans placedthereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a displayenclosure for food wherein the supports for pan carrying food productsare maintained in their spaced-apart relationship by hidden, fluidcarrying conduits.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide adisplay enclosure which, due to its unique construction, gives asubstantially unobstructed viewing of the food contained therein.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anenclosure and rack for displaying food products which is thermallyefficient in its operation and relatively simple and inexpensive in itsconstruction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description andaccompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rack of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in cross-section of a conduit for carryingfluid;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a display enclosure of the presentinvention having a source of heated transfer fluid thereon;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a display enclosure of the presentinvention having a source of cooled transfer fluid therebeneath; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings where like characters of referenceindicate like elements in each of the several views, numeral 10 refersgenerally to the rack used in the enclosure of the present invention forchilling, warming and cooking of food products by conduction in adisplay environment.

The rack 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a plurality of verticallyspaced-apart pan supports 12. Each pan support 12 consists of aplurality of spaced-apart tubular members 14, each tubular member havingone end thereof connected in sealed, fluid transfer relationship with afirst plenum 16 and the other end thereof connected in sealed, fluidtransfer relationship to a second plenum 18. The plenums 16, 18 andtubular members 14 serve to provide a planer support surface on which apan (not shown) containing food products can be cooled, warmed or cookedby conductive thermal transfer of heat or cold between the supportsurface thus created and the pan.

The pan supports 12 are maintained in their vertical, spaced-apartrelationship by means of conduits 20 arranged adjacent the end portionsof plenums 16, 18. Each conduit 20, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of ahollow, tubular body portion 22 preferably made of metal or moldedplastic and having a fluid transfer passageway 24. The conduit 20 has anend 26 in which is formed a cylindrical shaped recess 28. Acircular-shaped lip 30 is formed integral with the main body portion 22and extends a distance beyond the end 26 and adjacent the recess 28. Aconventional O-ring seal 32 is positioned in the recess 28 adjacent thelip 30 and extends a distance beyond the end 26.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the plenums 16, 18 have circular recesses 34formed in the ends thereof and are of a diameter slightly greater thanthe outside diameter of lip 30 of conduits 20. When in position, thelips 30 are located in the recesses 34 to thereby maintain the supports12 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other. Engagement ofthe end 26 of each conduit 20 with a respective outer surface of plenums16, 18 causes the O-ring seal 32 to compress thereby ensuring awatertight seal between the plenums 16, 18 and the conduits 20 for atransfer fluid circulated through the plenums 16, 18, tubular members 14and conduits 20. An inlet pipe 36 is provided in communication with aconduit end section 38 for supplying transfer fluid to the plenums 18and an outlet pipe 40 connected to one of a plurality of return conduits42 interconnected between plenums 16 to thereby ensure that transferfluid entering the inlets 36 will flow through all plenums 16, 18,tubular members 14 and conduits 20 before exiting outlet 38. It is to beunderstood, of course, that the inlet pipe 36 and outlet pipe 40 can beconnected at any conduit 20 in the rack configuration to ensure the evenand balanced flow of transfer fluid through the various plenums 16, 18and tubular members 14 of each level of the rack 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown in FIG. 4 an enclosure44 employing the rack 10 for displaying food products on pans (notshown) while at the same time maintaining the food products in a closedthermal environment whether they are being warmed or cooked. Theenclosure 44 comprises essentially a rack 10, the conduits 20 of whichare enclosed by L-shaped corner members 46, 48. The longitudinal edgesof each corner member 46, 48 abut to form a rectangular-shaped tubularmember 50 for enclosing the vertically extending conduits 20. Panels 52of glass, plastic, or other transparent material are positioned betweentubular members 50 and maintained adjacent thereto by L-shaped cornercover members 54. A closure member 56 is provided having a centralportion 58 also of glass, plastic or other transparent material topermit access to the interior of the enclosure 44. Heated transfer fluidcan be supplied to the rack 10 within the enclosure 44 from an externalsource (not shown) to warm or cook food products placed thereon or itcan be provided by self-contained unit 60 mounted on top of theenclosure 44 and secured to tubular members 50 and corner cover members54. The unit 60 comprises generally a reservoir 62 for holding aquantity of transfer fluid, normally water or a mixture of water andglycol. The transfer fluid is heated by means of a resistance element 64to either a warming temperature or a temperature for cooking the foodproducts by conduction, as set forth in our aforementioned U.S. patent.The transfer fluid is then circulated through the rack 10 by means of apump 66 connected between the reservoir 62 and inlet pipe 68 by means ofpiping 70. The transfer fluid is returned from rack 10 by way of outletpipe 72 and piping 74. A control valve 76 can also be provided betweenthe pump 66 and inlet pipe 68 to control fluid flow through the rack 10.An electronic control unit 78 is also provided for controllingenergization of the heating element 64, pump 66 and control valve 76 inresponse to the sensed temperature of the pan supports 12 of rack 10 anda predetermined temperature set on controller 80 connected thereto.

FIGS. 7 and 8 set forth another embodiment of enclosure 44 for coolingfood products placed on pans (not shown). In the embodiment of FIG. 7, atop member 88 is provided secured to L-shaped members 46, 48 and cornermembers 54. The enclosure 44 with its rack 10 is positioned on a base 90containing a refrigeration compressor 92. A reservoir 94 is alsoprovided for holding a quantity of transfer fluid of water or a brinesolution. The transfer fluid is circulated from an inlet 95 through therack 10 to an outlet 96 by means of a pump 98 and piping 100. Anevaporator coil 102 is located in the reservoir 94 surrounded by thetransfer fluid and is connected, as a conventional refrigeration system,to the compressor 92 via a condensing coil 104 and an expansion valve106. A control unit 108 is provided which responds to the predeterminedtemperature set on controller 110 and actuates expansion valve 106 tothereby regulate the temperature of the transfer fluid and ultimatelypan supports 12.

It is to be understood, of course, that the rack 10 can be used byitself to support pans of food products without the use of an enclosure44 by, for example, placing it free-standing in a walk-in cooler.

Applicants have thus described in detail their rack and enclosure forcooling, warming or cooking of food products by conduction which employsa novel conduit system for both maintaining the pan supports invertical, spaced-apart relationship but also provide a means which cantransmit a transfer fluid between pan supports.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A rack for cooling or warming food products on pans, saidrack comprising:(a) a plurality of vertically spaced-apart pan supportmeans having fluid carrying passageways therethrough, (b) conduit meansextending between said pan support means for maintaining each of saidpan support means in spaced-apart relationship, said conduit means beingdetachably secured to said pan support means and serving to interconnectsaid passageways of adjacent pan support means in fluid conductiverelationship, and (c) inlet means for connecting at least one of saidpan support means to a source of hot or cold transfer fluid and anoutlet means connected to at least one of said pan support means forremoving said transfer fluid after its passage through said supportmeans and said conduit means.
 2. A rack as set forth in claim 1 whereineach of said pan support means includes a plurality of spaced-aparttubular members, each tubular member having one end thereof connected toa first plenum and the other end thereof connected to a second plenum,said first and second plenums and each of said tubular members engagingsaid respective food carrying pan in thermal conductive relationship. 3.A rack as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:(a) means forenclosing said rack for maintaining a thermal atmosphere between saidpan support means, and (b) closure means to provide access to said pansupport means.
 4. A rack as set forth in claim 3 further comprisingmeans adjacent said enclosure means for providing a source of heated orcooled transfer fluid, and means for circulating said transfer fluidthrough said pan support means from said inlet to said outlet means. 5.A rack as set forth in claim 3 wherein said enclosure means issubstantially transparent.
 6. A rack for cooling or warming foodproducts on pans, said rack comprising:(a) a plurality of verticallyspaced-apart pan support means having fluid carrying passagewaystherethrough, (b) conduit means extending between said pan support meansfor maintaining each of said pan support means in spaced-apartrelationship, said conduit means serving to interconnect saidpassageways of adjacent pan support means in fluid conductiverelationship and each of said conduit means having a circular-shaped lipadjacent each end thereof defining a fluid passageway therethrough andan O-ring seal positioned adjacent said lip, and (c) inlet means forconnecting at least one of said pan support means to a source of hot orcold transfer fluid and an outlet means connected to at least one ofsaid pan support means for removing said transfer fluid after itspassage through said support means and said conduit means.
 7. A rack asset forth in claim 6 wherein said pan support means have fluid transferrecesses formed therein and said lip of said conduit means resides insaid recess and said O-ring seal abuts said pan support means to ensurea fluid tight seal therebetween.
 8. An enclosure for cooling or warmingfood products on pans, said enclosure comprising:(a) a chamber having atleast two vertically upstanding, spaced-apart side walls and adjacenttop and bottom walls, and at least one closure member permitting accessto said chamber, (b) rack means in said chamber having a plurality ofvertically spaced-apart pan support means having fluid carryingpassageways, (c) conduit means extending between said pan support meansfor maintaining each of said pan support means in spaced-apartrelationship, said conduit means being detachably secured to said pansupport means and serving to interconnect said passageways of adjacentpan support means in fluid conductive relationship, and (d) inlet meansfor connecting at least one of said pan support means to a source of hotor cold transfer fluid and an outlet means connected to at least one ofsaid pan support means for removing said transfer fluid after itspassage through said support means and said conduit means.
 9. Anenclosure as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said pan support meansincludes a plurality of spaced-apart tubular members, each tubularmember having one end thereof connected to a first plenum and the otherend thereof connected to a second plenum, said first and second plenumsand each of said tubular members engaging said respective food carryingpan in thermal conductive relationship.
 10. An enclosure as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said side walls and said closure member are transparent.11. An enclosure for cooling or warming food products on pans, saidenclosure comprising:(a) a chamber having at least two verticallyupstanding, spaced-apart side walls and adjacent top and bottom walls,and at least one closure member permitting access to said chamber, (b)rack means in said chamber having a plurality of vertically spaced-apartpan support means having fluid carrying passageways, (c) conduit meansextending between said pan support means for maintaining each of saidpan support means in spaced-apart relationship, said conduit meansserving to interconnect said passageways of adjacent pan support meansin fluid conductive relationship and each of said conduit means having acircular-shaped lip adjacent each end thereof defining a fluidpassageway therethrough and an O-ring seal positioned adjacent said lip,and (d) inlet means for connecting at least one of said pan supportmeans to a source of hot or cold transfer fluid and an outlet meansconnected to at least one of said pan support means for removing saidtransfer fluid after its passage through said support means and saidconduit means.
 12. An enclosure as set forth in claim 11 wherein saidpan support means have fluid transfer recesses formed therein and saidlip of said conduit means resides in said recess and said O-ring sealabuts said pan support means to ensure a fluid tight seal therebetween.